New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condoled the death of 17 Indian pilgrims in Nepal.

"Very sad news from Nepal. My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in the bus accident," Modi said in a statement here.

He said a team from the Indian embassy in Kathmandu reached the spot within an hour of the accident to oversee rescue and relief work. He added that the embassy was taking care of their treatment.

The accident took place at 6.40 a.m. when the bus carrying dozens of Indian pilgrims skidded off a highway and rolled down some 200 metres into Jhyapre river in Dhading district, about 50 km west of Kathmandu.